Why do sixth form not have to use a Common Application Form?

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This might be a question for the admissions experts in the room. @prh47bridge @admission etc

The Admissions Code para 2.1 says that:
"For applications in the normal admissions round, local authorities must provide a common application form (CAF)".
So why does this not seem to be the case for Sixth Forms that admit a lot of new students in Year 12? Does it not fulfil the definition of a "normal" admissions round?

The only other relevant section I can find is 2.6 which says:
"Children and their parents applying for sixth form places may use the CAF, although if they are already on the roll they are not required to do so in order to transfer into year 12. Admission authorities can, however, set academic entry criteria for their sixth forms, which must be the same for both external and internal places."

So does the combination of the word "may" and that final sentence absolve the school from using a CAF? It's a bit ambiguous.

And if sixth form application forms aren't supplementary to a CAF, do they still have to follow the rules set out in the code for Supplementary Admissions Forms, e.g. the rule about not asking for information that isn't relevant to the admissions criteria?

Entry into a sixth form is based on gcse results and the fact they offer the courses the student wants to do - isn't it?

Bookmum, that doesn't stop them using a common application form.

It isn't clear from the current Admissions Code but the relevant legislation is clear that local authorities are not under any duty to co-ordinate sixth form admissions. If they do co-ordinate admissions they will have some form of CAF but most don't, requiring prospective students to apply to individual schools. The school is not under any obligation to use the LA's CAF - in most cases it is not appropriate for an application to a single school.

The situation at sixth form is complicated by the fact that there are many sixth form colleges that are not subject to the Admissions Code at all. However, when dealing with a school, the application form is not a supplementary form so the rules about supplementary forms don't apply. Having said that, the school should be able to show a good reason for any information requested that isn't related to their admission criteria.

Unfortunately many schools sail very close to the wind on sixth form admissions and some blatantly break the Admissions Code by, for example, interviewing prospective pupils and using that as part of the process for deciding whether or not to offer a place.

Here all state schools use ucas for sixth form.

Having said that, the school should be able to show a good reason for any information requested that isn't related to their admission criteria.

Thanks Prh. But if a sixth form's application form is not subject to any of the rules in the Admissions Code, how would one go about challenging it with the adjudicator? Several round our way ask for info about hobbies and interests and one even asks what parents do for a living, and is set up to require details of two parents (you simply can't submit the form if the second parent is blank because it's a compulsory field).

Interesting. DD has just sorted her 6th form place out, School were very supportive as they don't have one, so she has to go somewhere else, but she had to fill a separate form for each college.

A school is subject to the Admissions Code so you can complain to the Adjudicator. If you want to complain about a college you start with the college. If you aren't happy with their response you can go to the ESFA.

The only info DS filled in was an expression of interest form in for his sixth form (attached to a school) as he didn't want to go to his old school sixth form. I think the requirement was grade 7 and above in the A levels they wished to study and minimum of grade 5 in Maths and English. He got invited for a taster day and at the end of it he was told if he wanted to join he could turn up up on GCSE results day with his GCSE grades and register.

A form asking for parents professions sounds very odd, I wonder if you have to provide "proof"?

A school is subject to the Admissions Code so you can complain to the Adjudicator

But @prh47bridge, the adjudicator will ask which clause has been breached. The relevant clause is 2.4, but it is worded to apply to supplementary forms, not sixth form application forms. Surely that means they have a loophole?

It probably does mean they are ok. However, I stand by my comment that any complaints about a school's admission arrangements for sixth form go to the Adjudicator. Your only other alternative is judicial review.